The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has strongly rejected the Misinformation, Disinformation, Hate Speech and Publication of Offensive Materials Bill (MDHI Bill), 2025 in its current form, describing the legislative process as non-transparent and lacking broad stakeholder consultation.
At a press conference in Accra on Monday, GJA President Albert Kwabena Dwumfour said that while the Association supports efforts to curb misinformation and hate speech, the drafting process of the Bill “has not met the minimum standards of democratic participation.”
“It is troubling that such a far-reaching Bill, one that touches the very core of free speech, journalistic practice, and democratic governance, is being pursued without adequate stakeholder consultation,” Mr. Dwumfour stated.
Bill Could Endanger Media Freedom – GJA Warns
The GJA cautioned that pushing through the MDHI Bill without public input could endanger press freedom and media independence in Ghana.
Mr. Dwumfour warned that even if the current government has no intention of abusing the law, future administrations could weaponize it against journalists and critics.
“Media freedom must not be sacrificed in the name of regulation,” he emphasized.
GJA Demands Three-Month Extension for Public Consultation
The Association is demanding a three-month extension for national consultations on the Misinformation and Hate Speech Bill, arguing that the current period is inadequate and risks excluding critical voices from the process.
Mr. Dwumfour stressed that any legislation affecting press freedom must be transparent, inclusive, and constitutionally grounded.
“A law that affects press freedom should never be conceived or enacted behind closed doors or under pressure of time,” he said. “Genuine and broad consultation is not a courtesy, it is a constitutional necessity.”
GJA Calls for Joint Technical Working Group
The GJA is proposing that the Ministry of Communications collaborate with media bodies, civil society organizations, academia, and digital rights advocates to organize regional stakeholder forums before the Bill is finalized and laid before Parliament.
The Association also announced that its legal team will review the Bill and submit an official position paper, while calling for the establishment of a Joint Technical Working Group to harmonize all stakeholder inputs.
“We are calling for transparency, accountability, and participation, not secrecy,” Mr. Dwumfour said. “We urge government to pause, engage, and listen.”
Background: What is the MDHI Bill?
The Misinformation, Disinformation, Hate Speech and Publication of Offensive Materials Bill, 2025 seeks to regulate the spread of false information and hate speech, particularly on digital platforms and social media.
However, media and civil society groups fear the Bill could curtail free speech and give excessive powers to government regulators, thereby threatening journalistic independence and constitutional rights.
